Professor

Peter Dirks

Molecular Genetics

MD, PhD, FRCSC

Location
SickKids - Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning
Address
686 Bay Street, 16-9708, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5G 0A4
Research Interests
Cancer, Neuroscience, Stem cell biology

Our laboratory is interested in applying the conceptual and methodologic framework of stem cell biology to the study of brain cancer. In our view, brain cancer is a caricature of normal development but with aberrant molecular regulation of self-renewal and differentiation. We study both human brain cancer and mouse models of brain cancer to ask questions about the cell of origin, nature of the cells that propagate cancer growth, and explore novel therapeutic targets using genetic and small molecule approaches.

Cross-affiliations

  • Department of Surgery, University of Toronto
  • Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
  • Ontario Institute for Regenerative Medicine